Bruce Cassidy may have been Edmonton's preferred choice before Mike Babcock took over the Oilers' bench.
Rod Pedersen said Edmonton could have landed Cassidy by waiting another week in June, though he presented that conclusion as his view rather than a confirmed fact.
The Oilers reportedly asked Vegas for permission to interview Cassidy. The Golden Knights declined, blocking Edmonton from holding the conversation it wanted.
Instead of waiting for the situation to change, Edmonton shifted its attention to Babcock and secured league clearance before completing the hire.
Pedersen believes Cassidy would have been the better fit. He also said agents he spoke with agreed that Edmonton moved before another possible window opened.
That claim adds pressure to an appointment already drawing heavy attention. Every difficult stretch under Babcock will now invite questions about whether Edmonton acted too quickly.
"I think Bruce Cassidy would have been a better fit, and had they waited a week, they would have had him,” said Pedersen. When the response was that's big news, Pedersen clarified, “…that's what I think, and I've talked to the agents and they're all like that's exactly what happened.”
He added that Babcock has the credentials to be a good fit for Edmonton and said he's not a bad guy, “but every time he comes on my show, my phone blows up with players that hate him.”
Bruce Cassidy was the Oilers' first choice before stunning coaching twist
The Golden Knights may never have allowed Cassidy to interview with a Pacific Division rival. Vegas could have preferred paying him not to coach rather than strengthening Edmonton's bench.
That uncertainty explains the Oilers' decision. Management had no guarantee Cassidy would become available, and waiting could have left the club without either candidate.
Edmonton's leadership group then met with Babcock and came away convinced he was the right coach. That direct conversation gave him an advantage Cassidy never received.
Pedersen still raised a concern around Babcock's reputation. He said players contact him with negative reactions whenever the coach appears on his show.
That doesn't determine how Edmonton's locker room will respond. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman have already offered public support for the hire.
Babcock now carries a clear assignment: establish structure, earn trust and push a veteran roster deeper into the postseason.
Cassidy will remain the unanswered question because Edmonton pursued him first. A strong Oilers season would end the debate quickly, while early problems would keep the missed opportunity alive.
The Oilers chose the coach they could interview over the coach they were forced to wait for. Babcock must now prove that certainty was worth more than patience.
Source : Oilers would have gotten their guy 'if they'd just waited a week'
Should the Oilers have waited longer for Bruce Cassidy?
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